Auto Industry Plans to Go Green

At the annual North American International Auto Show in Detroit, glamorous gas guzzlers typically command all of the attention, but this year was different. Given the current economic climate and energy crisis, car manufacturers are realizing it’s time to re-think the business. Fledgling auto-maker General Motors is planning to shift the company into green gear by converting part of its fleet to battery-powered—its’ Chevy Volt will run on a lithium-ion battery pack and is scheduled for release in late 2010. Although the industry is depending on support from Washington to get through the financial crisis, at least it’s moving toward producing more energy-efficient cars.